July 1, 2009

Pioneer school still forming young minds for the next generation

By Elizabeth M. DeLine

Since 1924 Presentation of Our Lady School has brought exceptional Catholic education to the community in west Denver. 

Sandra Howard, the principal of the school and native of South Africa, as well as Father Edward Poehlmann, the pastor, are already enthusiastic about the new school year beginning in August of this year. The school will have an enrollment of some 130 children, with other pre-school hopefuls.

“Although many children don’t come to Mass here on the weekends because they aren’t in this parish,” said Howard, “they come here for school, from 15 different zip codes, because the level of education is so much better than the public schools in the area.”

According to Howard, a couple of reasons the quality of education is so high are the small class sizes and the dedication of the teachers.  Small classes make for a better learning environment that helps the teachers to spend time with each individual child and truly make a difference in their lives.  The teachers view their work more in the light of vocation rather than duty.

 
This can be evidenced in the school’s legacy, which Howard said is, “To teach every child to be true to themselves and most especially to their faith in Jesus Christ.”

“From that,” concluded Howard, “we want every child to know that they are more than just a product of their neighborhood.  We want them to know that they can become unique individuals, who can serve their community with the talents God has given them.”

Drawing from his experience of teaching in other Catholic schools, such as Bishop Machebeuf and Holy Family high schools and St. Clare of Assisi Grade School in Edwards, Father Poehlmann emphasized the importance of Catholic education, saying, “I think it’s critical because it focuses on the integral formation of the child.” 

The priest described how during the 1980s Presentation School was on the verge of closing due to low enrollment and funds.  Thankfully, due to the grace of God and the passion of Father John M. Gibbons, O.M.I., who was pastor from 1980 to 1996, the school rallied back to being still a small but steadily enrolled school. 

The school opened under the direction of the first parish priest, Father James J. Gibbons.  The parish and school served the pioneers living on the western plain, who weathered the rough living conditions that the prairie put upon them.  From blizzards in the winter, to muddy roads in the springtime, or the blistering heat during the height of summer, the tiny parish and school ministered faithfully to the growing Denver population, never once faltering in its mission to bring the Gospel of Christ to its faithful parishioners.

Father Poehlmann stressed that the school’s success has been due to faithful parishioners throughout the years, who continue to help sustain the school in any way they can.  Whether it was through attending Father Gibbons’ bingo in the ‘80s and ‘90s or today’s annual spaghetti dinners, fish fries, and burrito sales, the parishioners help meet the needs of the school. 

Yet, the pastor and Howard were transparent with the challenges they still have to face today, mentioning that the traditional sources of funding are no longer available.  In the future they plan to set up a foundation that will give financial aid to the children who need it most.  

 “Presentation School is not willing to turn away any child or family who is in need of financial aid,” the pastor asserted, with Howard agreeing.

Being that Presentation is located in an ethnically diverse, low-income neighborhood, the school goes the extra mile by offering free breakfast and lunch to all the children who attend its pre-school through eighth grade classes.

Not only does Presentation School feed soul and mind with its strong faith-based curriculum, noted the pastor and principal, but it also enriches the physical aspects of the children as well. The “little school on the prairie,” the officials declared, is a clear example of the integrated formation of Catholic education.

PRESENTATION OF OUR LADY SCHOOL

Address: 660 Julian St., Denver
Phone: 303-629-6562
Web: presentationdenver.org
Presentation of Our Lady School maintains a long tradition of excellence in Catholic education to the community in west Denver. The school (pre-school to eighth) is currently accepting applications for the 2009-10 academic year. Presentation strives to form its students in the light of the Gospel.